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Hello From Niagara Falls Skylon Tower Imax Theatre And Journey Behind The Falls
fter this overview it was Buffalo are visible from the top
now time for me to hit the and a circular walkway provides a
road and start my busy 360 degree panoramic view. Signs
schedule of discoveries in at regular intervals identify the
Niagara Falls, Ontario. I started various sights surrounding the
my day with a visit to the Skylon tower.
Tower, Niagara Fall’s most famous
landmarks. Construction of the A souvenir shop is located in the
tower started in May of 1964 and central portion of this
17 months later the tower was observation deck and through the
officially opened jointly by the glass doors you can reach the
then Governor of New York and the outside observation deck. I
Premier of Ontario. I walked in ventured outside where the wind
on the main floor which houses was howling on this rather grey
some retail outlets and an arcade and chilly day. The view of the
and took one of the “yellow bug” American and Canadian Falls as
elevators to the top. As we moved well as of Goat’s Island and
up from the main level, the falls Niagara Falls, NY, was
on both the American and the nevertheless breathtaking. Seeing
Canadian side came into view. the Falls from the air just
provides a much better idea of
I went straight up to the top the imposing size and beauty of
level which houses the this natural wonder.
observation deck. This
indoor/outdoor observatory is the When it got too chilly I hurried
highest vantage point in Niagara back inside and went a couple of
Falls, and close to 8,000 square stairs down to check out the
miles in Canada and the United Revolving Dining Room, which must
States can be seen. Sights such be a wonderful restaurant in the
as the skyline of Toronto and evening, when the colourful
lights and the illuminated century onwards. Even the story
cascades of Niagara Falls come to of Roger Woodward, the seven year
life. old American boy who was swept
over the Horseshoe Falls in a
I was to get much more intimate life jacket (the only survivor
knowledge of Niagara Falls who went over the Falls without a
through my next visit: just protective vessel) was told in
minutes across the street from moving images.
the Skylon Tower is the Niagara
Falls Imax Theatre, a modern Just outside the Imax Theatre’s
facility that features a truly screening room is the Daredevil
spectacular IMAX presentation: Gallery that features a number of
“Niagara: Miracles, Myths and the interesting and diverse
Magic”. I always love IMAX vessels that were used by various
presentations and was really daredevils to go over the Falls.
looking forward to learning more One of the most famous was a
about the unique historical 63-year old school Teacher named
background of Niagara Falls. Annie Edson Tayler whose story
was also told in the Imax movie.
The movie started with the native Joined by with her cat, she was
legend of the Maid of the Mist, the first person to go over the
and featured a dramatization of Falls for a publicity stunt, in a
the first sighting of Niagara wooden barrel, cushioned by a big
Falls by European explorers in mattress. Unfortunately, her much
the 17th century. It also covered hoped-for public speaking career
all sorts of stories of never materialized and she died
daredevils and high-wire as a pauper.
performance artists that started
to make Niagara Falls a tourism Other daredevils went over the
attraction from the early 19th falls in metal barrels of all
shapes and sizes, with varying more fantasy-based angle. Special
results. Some arrived on the effects include gusts of air,
other side of the big cascade sprays of water and moving seats
virtually unharmed, while others that are intended to create a
suffocated or died of internal multi-sensory experience of the
injuries. It was indeed rather film.
eerie to see some of the actual
vessels that were used in It was time to continue my
unsuccessful attempts to go over exploration of Niagara Falls, but
the Falls. One of the most I had to get closer. So I walked
gruesome exhibits is the “George down Murray Street and turned
Stathakis Death Barrel” that was right onto the Niagara Parkway,
used in an unsuccessful attempt walking right next to the mighty
in 1930 when its passenger Niagara River. The weather at
suffocated after being trapped in this time was grey and chilly,
turbulent water behind the Falls and wet snow was falling. I was
for 22 hours. Today such glad to take refuge in the Table
daredevil stunts are actually Rock Centre, the shopping and
outlawed and anyone ever restaurant complex right next to
attempting to go over the Niagara the edge of the Canadian
Falls would surely face hefty Horseshoe Falls which was
fines. currently under renovation. Most
of the souvenir shops and fast
To continue with the Niagara food outlets were open and I had
Falls historic theme my next a quick pizza and a charming
visit was to the “Skylon The conversation with five British
Falls 3D/4D Movie”, a movie ladies that were in Niagara Falls
theatre located at the base of for a quick pre-Christmas
the Skylon Tower that recounts getaway, their first time in
the Niagara Falls story from a Canada. They seemed to have a
pretty jolly old time in Canada Niagara Falls, its geology and
and took the clammy weather in some of the famous visitors who
strides – they were probably used include President Kennedy and
to it. Marilyn Monroe, who were both
here on separate occasions.
Having satisfied my hunger I was
ready to get truly up close and Towards the end of the tunnel
personal with the Falls: the there are two smaller side
“Journey behind the Falls” is one tunnels, each leading to an
of the best ways to experience opening, or a portal, that
the true power of the Niagara provides a view from behind the
Falls first-hand. I took the waterfalls. One of these portals
elevator down to the lower level was partially covered by icicles
at the Table Rock Centre and and presented a perfect motif for
started my own journey behind the any passionate photographer.
mighty Falls. Known until the Access to the portals was blocked
early 1990s as the “Scenic by a metal barrier for safety
Tunnels”, this attraction reasons, although in the past
consists of two tunnels and an visitors could get much closer to
outside viewing platform. The the edge and admire the tumbling
tunnels date back to early 20th masses of water from just a few
century and extend about 46 m meters away. The dull roar of the
behind the waterfall. I walked falling water pervaded the entire
down the long underground underground space and provided an
corridors with their orange idea of the power of the millions
lighting and stopped of litres of water that fall down
intermittently to read the the Horseshoe Falls every second.
informational posters on the
wall. These displays provide a The statistics illustrate why
description of the history of Niagara Falls is considered one
of the natural Wonders of the from all over the world were
World: the Canadian Horseshoe feverishly taking pictures of
Falls, the most impressive of the this unique sight. Even on this
three falls in Niagara Falls, grey day the view was impressive
have a length of over 670 metres, and the thunder of the cascading
and their height is 53 metres masses of water filled the air as
which makes Niagara Falls the one fifth of the world’s fresh
most powerful waterfall in North water was crashing 13 stories
America. The depth of the Niagara down into the river below.
River below the Horsehoe Falls is
estimated to be 56 metres. The Duly impressed by this natural
straight line crest of the wonder, I made my way back up and
American Falls is 253 metres. strolled back along the Niagara
About 90% of the water of the River’s edge to my vehicle, which
Niagara River plunges over the I had parked conveniently at the
Horseshoe Falls while the other Fallsview Casino Resort. I was
10% make their way down the pondering what to do next and
American Falls and the Bridal because I felt thoroughly chilled
Veil Falls which are separated I was looking for a nice place to
from the Canadian Falls by Goat warm up in.
Island, an uninhabited island
that provides great vantage I found just such a place just a
points of all the cascades. few minutes drive away from the
Horseshoe Falls: Bird Kingdom,
I had now reached the outside one of Niagara Falls’, Ontario,
observation platform that newer attractions. This tropical
provides an excellent lateral destination was surely going to
view of the curtain of the revive my chilled bones and it
Horseshoe Falls as they plunge was going to be my next stop on
into the river below. Tourists my Niagara Falls discoveries.
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About the Author:
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions. Travel and Transitions deals with travel to foreign countries and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences, interviews with travelers and travel experts, insights and reflections, cross-cultural issues, contests and many other features. Published At: www.Isnare.com |
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